Hidden amidst the bustling streets of Paris’ 4th arrondissement lies Rue de la Cerisaie. Its name whispers a secret a story of cherry trees. This charming street holds a captivating past. It started as an alleyway through the gardens of the Hotel Saint-Pol. The hotel’s grounds once boasted a vibrant cherry orchard.
In 1544 Rue de la Cerisaie was officially created. It was built on the site of that very orchard. The land was part of the royal domain of Hotel Saint-Pol. King Francis I had it sold to developers. The street initially extended in an L-shape to Rue Saint-Antoine.
A wealthy Italian financier named Zamet built a magnificent hotel around 1585. This grand residence dramatically reduced the size of the gardens. Zamet’s hotel was later acquired by the Constable of Lesdiguières. The hotel’s gardens shrank further in the mid-18th century. Parts were sold to the Visitation Sainte-Marie convent and to builders. Rue Lesdiguières was opened in 1765 cutting further into the gardens.
Number 10 Rue de la Cerisaie marks the former location of the Hotel de Lesdiguières. It was rebuilt smaller in 1741. A plaque commemorates Tsar Peter the Great’s visit in 1717. The building was sadly demolished in 1877 during the construction of Boulevard Henri IV. Another building a house designed by Philibert Delorme in 1558 met a similar fate.
Number 31 Rue de la Cerisaie has a fascinating history. It housed the temporal services of the Celestins convent in the 18th century. An intriguing tale from Jacques Hillairet’s book describes a trapdoor. A lavishly set table would mysteriously ascend from the cellar for the administrators’ feasts. Today a restaurant called “Le Temps des Cerises” stands at that address. A perfect tribute to the street’s cherry tree origins.
Rue de la Cerisaie’s story is a testament to the changing face of Paris. Yet its name and the faint echoes of its cherry orchard past remain a captivating reminder of its history. The street’s evolution from a cherry orchard to a vibrant Parisian street is a charming historical narrative. Each building on this Parisian gem breathes life into the past. Walk down Rue de la Cerisaie and let its cherry tree heritage enchant you.